Passengers on a Delta flight from Amsterdam to Detroit were in for a horrifying surprise when maggots began falling from the overhead compartment onto them. The incident occurred when a passenger’s suitcase containing rotting fish opened in the overhead bin, resulting in the infestation of maggots and forcing the plane to turn around an hour after take-off.
After landing, all passengers were instructed to de-board the aircraft while the suitcase containing the fish was bagged for destruction, and the plane itself underwent a thorough cleaning. Some passengers took to social media to share their experiences, with one passenger named Kelce expressing their shock and disgust on Twitter. The owner of the suitcase was identified and detained by Delta staff on the plane after the other passengers had left.
As compensation, passengers were offered 8,000 air miles, hotel room compensation, and a $30 meal ticket if they were delayed overnight. Unfortunate passengers also took to Reddit to share their experiences, with one revealing that the maggots were falling onto their head before the situation was addressed.
Delta issued an apology to the customers of Flight 133 AMS-DTW, attributing the interruption to an improperly packed carry-on bag. They reassured that the aircraft was thoroughly cleaned and passengers were placed on the next available flight. This incident came just a week after another attention-grabbing story involving Delta, when a woman was almost kicked off a flight for not wearing a bra.
In another unexpected incident, Lisa Archbold detailed her upsetting experience with an airline crew member before her Delta flight from Salt Lake City to San Francisco. She was called to the front of the aircraft minutes before take-off and reprimanded for her outfit, which the crew member deemed as “offensive” and “revealing”.
These shocking incidents have drawn attention to Delta Airlines in recent weeks, prompting discussions about passenger safety and satisfaction. It remains to be seen how Delta will address these public relations challenges as they work to regain customer trust and confidence.